Aiden O’Neill joins Cenral Coast Mariners on loan from Burnley, eyes Socceroos call-up

Aiden O'Neill in action for Fleetwood Town.
Aiden O'Neill in action for Fleetwood Town.Source: Getty Images
AAP from Aap

THE Central Coast Mariners have secured the services of 20-year-old midfielder, Aiden O’Neill who will join the club on loan from English Premier League outfit, Burnley FC.

The Brisbane born midfielder has signed a season-long loan agreement that will see him join Mike Mulvey’s Mariners until at least the end of the A-League 2018/19 season.

Aiden O'Neill of Burnley controls the ball during a pre-season friendly.Source: Getty Images

O’Neill has featured on three occasions in the English Premier League for Burnley and has had one appearance in the FA Cup and a start in the League Cup. He signed his maiden professional contract with ‘The Clarets’ in 2016. The Australian under 23 representative had spent the first half of the 2017/18 season on loan with Fleetwood Town where he made 27 appearances for the ‘Cod Army’, before returning to Burnley in January 2018.

A box-to-box midfielder, O’Neill arrived in England as a 14-year-old where he was spotted in Manchester by a scout from Burnley.

Nicky Maynard of MK Dons and Aiden O'Neill of Oldham Athletic in action.Source: Getty Images

“Obviously playing in the English Premier League is every boy’s dream but leading into it (my debut), I didn’t think about it too much to be honest,” O’Neill said.

“For my family and myself it was a very proud moment but that’s just the start and I’ve got my whole career ahead of me.

“I’m coming on loan and I want to earn experience. I want to be involved and help the team push forward, if that helps me when it comes to Burnley then great but at the end of the day I am here to help the Mariners win games.” O’Neill said he’d also like to eventually break into the Socceroos’ squad.

Aiden O'Neill in action for Burnley.Source: Getty Images